My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

offer some to anyone, a group of children was surrounding her and

is so

motion with her hand, she lifted a knife and a paper plate,

to the side. “Today is

group, which happened to be a little girl in pigtails, immediately said, “Wish Miss Rachel a

the ‘Happy

must close her

Rachel must blow out

to indicate to Julian that there was no need

in unison. The delicate chorus of young voices would have a

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

mommy says you have to say it in your heart and not out loud, or the wish won’t come true,” a very young voice piped up beside

she lowered her head to look, she found a little girl who wasn’t even at table height yet looking up at her with pretty,

gentled and, under the gazes of the children, clasped her hands and made a wish. After that,

you!” their parents

paper plates, the children raced off, dabbing icing on each other’s faces. Just like that, the strangers in the

finally smiled for the

“The most important thing right now is to take care of your body and your mood. You don’t need to

as well pretend it never existed for now. At that point, Rachel’s expression

upstairs, then. It’s been

and headed toward the

apartment and

propped

Rachel saw Justin glowering at her, his darkened face made all the more grotesque by the

on

sideways into the house and shut the door

been getting along

took two steps back. Why are you

resentfully, he stalked toward her as he pulled off his necktie and threw it onto the couch.

“I suppose you wouldn’t want me to ruin your blissful days, would

by step he approached her, forcing her back inch

idea what she did

of her arm and pulled, she staggered after him and was dragged